a difference senior

but by diving into the world of photography, attending and covering protests and interviewing people with incredible stories.

Because of newspaper and my love for journalism, I’ve had the opportunity to have one-on-one meetings with world-renowned journalists such as Emmy-award winning news anchor Shannon Bentle and KXAS DFW Consumer Correspondent Diana Zoga and discuss what journalism in the real world entails, both the pretty and the ugly. I now yearn to be in their positions and make the differences the journalistic stars above me have. I’ve had freelance job opportunities arise, received scholarships related to the writing skills I developed on staff and, through my role as an officer of the New Voices Texas board, a group of student journalists working to enact a law to end student censorship, I am already helping shape the future in my own way. I had the incredible opportunity of driving down to Austin over my spring break to speak to lawmakers about passing our bill during the 88th legislative session. Using my own voice to advocate for necessary social change will continue beyond my college years, and I know through my career as a journalist, I will help change the world.

While there may be bias and limited journalistic integrity in certain media outlets, what I have learned is this: student journalists are superheroes. I have spent a huge chunk of my high school career giving a voice to the voiceless and informing my peers on unjust situations they may have not otherwise gotten educated on. One step at a time, I am working to change the way my audience views unjust situations happening in my community. Learning the appropriate ways to speak up about the injustices in society through either an unbiased story or an opinion column has transformed the way I respond to controversial situations in my day-to-day life. I can recognize the feelings those that are involved in unfair situations are experiencing and work to help solve the conflict in an unbiased way — something I struggled with growing up.

It is fair to say the little girl who just wanted her share of dessert has been given a platform to help others get theirs many years later. I can say, with confidence, that elementary school Emma is proud knowing she can now do her best to ensure what is not fair gets its air time. I look back and cannot believe how much I have grown into a passionate woman in journalism. My value of seeing justice served is now being expressed in a new way: I am no longer a 2-year-old jealous of my brother’s unfair advantages — I am instead using my passion for speaking up for those without power, without a voice and without privilege, and I cannot wait to continue this journey for the rest of my life.